Oddsmakers make Mornhinweg the favorite in IndyPosted by Mike Florio on January 19, 2012, 9:50 AM EST

Nine years after he was pitched overboard by Matt Millen for Steve Mariucci, Marty Mornhinweg could be headed back to the top job for an NFL team.

Via our corporate cousins at CSNPhilly.com, an online oddsmaker has installed Mornhinweg as the favorite to replace Jim Caldwell.

Mornhinweg has 5/2 odds, with 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman at 4/1 and former Vikings coach Brad Childress at 5/1.

The presence of Roman’s name on the list makes sense, given that Roman served as offensive coordinator at Stanford, coaching presumptive No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck. But none of those names, each of whom would bring a version of the West Coast offense to Indy, mesh with the notion that Peyton Manning will still be the starting quarterback.

And barring Rob Lowe’s report from Wednesday coming to fruition in the next week or so, the selection of a coach will be the next big clue as to whether Manning will indeed return in 2012.

As explained at the top of Wednesday’s PFT Live, I think Manning already has made it clear that, if the top pick isn’t going to be traded to get him more help in his quest to cement his legacy, he doesn’t want to return, regardless of whether he’s healthy.

Colts owner Jim Irsay flew to Florida on Friday and while there discussed the team's head-coaching job with former Ohio State Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel for a second time, according to reports.

Tressel, who resigned in May after an NCAA scandal that enveloped the Ohio State football program, was hired by former Colts coach Jim Caldwell in September to be a game-day consultant in a role that allowed him to work from the team's coaches booth and advise Caldwell about replay reviews.

Irsay wrote on his Twitter account Saturday that he expects to decide on a new coach next week.

Tressel didn't begin his duties with the Colts until the seventh game of the season.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said he would have suspended Tressel if the Colts didn't make him sit out games to start the 2011 season. Because of the NCAA violations involving improper benefits, Tressel would have served a five-game suspension to start Ohio State's 2011 season had he remained coach of the Buckeyes.

On Friday morning, Irsay flew to Sarasota, Fla., where Tressel owns a home, according to the Indianapolis Star, and according to WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio, a second interview was conducted.

Irsay has gutted the Colts' front office and coaching staff after their 2-14 season, and Caldwell was fired Tuesday, two days before eight assistant coaches were let go.

Irsay's tweet read: "The (hash)1 pick debate will rage on,what a great year to have it..the HC search is wide ranging n thorough,decision by mid 2 late next week."

The Colts played the season without Peyton Manning, who had his third neck surgery in September.

The day after they locked up the No. 1 overall draft pick, Irsay fired team vice chairman Bill Polian and his son, general manager Chris.